"Hip replacement at Wythenshawe"

I had a hip replacement in 2008. The operation was cancelled twice. The third cancellation was on the day of the operation by phone. When I complained they said they would call me back. They said they had found me a bed, but not on an orthopaedic ward. I had no idea of the significance of this and was glad to accept. The operation went as planned. However the nursing care after this was not adequate. I could not move without the help of a "monkey ring", was left lying in the bed. I had bed sores within 24 hours. My son insisted that I be moved to an orthopaedic ward. I was moved after three days, in great pain. The DVT stockings had not been replaced after the operation and I developed DVT. After 5 days I had a pulmonary thrombosis in the middle of the night. The response to this was very quick and very efficient and I know that they saved my life, but I am sure that I would not have developed this if my nursing care immediately after the operation had been adequate. I then became very anaemic. A family member (a practioner nurse) drew their attention to my low blood count, as no one else appeared to have noticed. I was then given a blood transfusion. After 12 days I was finally discharged. I felt relieved to get out of the hospital.